Red Bulls Sign Midfielder Lloyd Sam to New Contract

HARRISON, NJ (Jan. 7, 2013) – The New York Red Bulls announced today have signed midfielder Lloyd Sam to a new contract.

“Lloyd showed our team and fans at the end of last season that he has the potential to be a very good player for us,” said Red Bulls Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh. “We are happy to sign Lloyd, who is recovering well from his knee injury he sustained last year. He will be fit for preseason.”

A native of Leeds, England, Sam, 28, joined the Red Bulls on Aug. 16, 2012 after most recently featuring for Notts County. Sam featured in five games, starting in two, and recorded one assist last year before suffering a season-ending PCL injury on Oct. 20.

Sam joined Notts County on loan from Leeds United in March 2012 and scored five goals in 10 appearances. From the 2010-11 season until his loan to Notts County, Sam played in 35 matches for Leeds, scoring twice.

Sam started his professional career with English side Charlton Athletic, then of the Premier League, in 2003 at the age of 18. He went on loan to Leyton Orient. Sam had two additional loan spells while with Charlton, spending time in 2006 with Sheffield Wednesday and in 2007 with Southend United. Sam became a fixture in Charlton’s starting lineup beginning with the 2007-08 season in the Championship and continued there until his final season with the club in 2009-10. Overall, Sam made 119 appearances for Charlton, scoring six times.